Portable hygroscope



C. SAMPIETRO.

PORTABLE HYGROSCOPE.

APPLICATION HLED AuG.9, 1919.

CORNELIUS SAMPIETRO, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE HYGROSCOPE.

Application filed August 9, 1919.

To ZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS SAMPIE- TRO, subject of the King of Italy,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county ofKings, State of New York, have invented a new and Improved PortableHygroscope, of which the following is a full, clear, and enactdescription.

This invention relates generally to a hygroscope or weather indicator,and more specifically to a portabie device which may be convenientlycarried upon the person without occupying a great amount of space.

It is not broadly new to provide a hygroscope or weather indicator, sono claim is broadly made thereto. However, in the device heretoforeprovided, the constructions have been large and cumbersome havingcertain delicate settings which were readily disarranO-ed, suchconstructions being adapted to be hung upon a wall or other position.They were not so arranged and constructed as would permit them to beused as a portable device or conveniently carried upon the person or tobe attached t`o a pencil, pen or any other desired object.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a portable hygroscopeor weather indicator of simple and compact construction which may bereadily and conveniently carried upon the person.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weather indicatorhaving its parts so arranged and constructed as to occupy but littlespace, so that the device may be readily attached to a pencil, pen orany other desired article.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a hygroscopehaving an adjustable compensating means which will permit the continuedtwisting or turning of the hygroscopic element, such as a twisted catgut or other suitable material, after an indicator has reached its limitof movement, the said continued twisting movement of the cat gut beingindependent of further movement in the same direction, of the indicator.Such a means will permit a change in the atmospheric conditions to beregistered by the indicator, without the hygroscopic element firsthaving to be untwisted before the turning eii'ect or the twisting effortbecomes effective, which would be the condition if no compensating n,ieans were provided.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 316,291.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a hygroscope a meansto maintain a relatively constant tension in the hygroscopic element, anindicating means being provided which is actuated by the said element,independent of gear 'and lever connections, and rotates about the axisof said element.

The above objects are accomplished byl providing a hygroscope having themechanism thereof carried within a tubular member, the said mechanismcomprising a hygroscopic element such as twisted cat gut extendinglongitudinally, having one end thereof yieldingly supported to permitlongitudinal movement, but held against rotation, the other end of saidelement being connected with an indicator through a compensating device,the said indicator preferably being supported on a bearing in axialalinement with the said element so that the said indicator will berotated about said axis by the turning or twisting effect of thehygroscopic element. The compensating devicecomprises, in the preferredform, a frictional connection between the said element, and theindicator, to permit continued movement of said element, after theindicator has reached its limit of movement. A,

compensating device of this character will permit the indicator torespond to a twisting or turning movement of the hygroscopic element inthe opposite direction, as soon as such movement is eifected. If apermanent or Xed connection were formed between the indicator and thehygroscopic element, and said element were to continue the turningmovement after the indicator had reached its limit of movement, beforethe indicator would respond to a reverse movement of the hygroscopicelement, the said element would first have to be untwisted a certainamount. It is such an objection that the compensating mechanismovercomes.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings showing' one of the preferredforms of the invention.

Similar characters of reference desi ate like parts in the severalviews. In the awings showing one of the preferred forms of theinvention,

Figure l is an elevational view of the in yention shown as applied :to

a pencil,

arrangement of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view looking 1n the direction of the arrows andtaken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows andtaken on the line 5 5. 4

Fig. 6 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows and taken on theline 6 6 of Fig. 2'.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view looking 1n the direction of the arrows andtaken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, a preferred form of the invention is thereshown as comprising a tubular member 1 having suitable -openings 2therein. A hygroscopic element 3 composed of a twisted cat gut or -anyother suitable material is positioned within the tubular member 1 andextends longitudinally thereof. One end 4 of the hygroscopic element isyieldingly supported so as to maintain a relatively constant tensiontherein, or to permit relative longitudinal movement of said element.The means for supporting the end 4 of the element also prevents 'atwisting or turning movement of. said element at this point. In thepreferred form shown, the supporting means cmprises a device 6 fixed tothe tubular member 1, and another device 7 connected to the end 4 of thehygroscopic element to move there.-

with, a resilient member such as a coil spring 8 being interposed-between the two devices. In the Fig. 2, the device 6 fixed to the tubecomprises a tubular member having a shoulder 9 fixed thereto forming aseat for one end of the spring 8.

The end 10 of the tubular member 6 is contracted, and slotted formingspaced tongue membersll, the ends 12 thereof being turned inward. Theother device 7 connected to the end 4 of the hygroscopic element isshown as comprising a tubular member having projecting lugs 13 guidedwithin the slotted end portion of the device or tubular member 6. Oneend of the device or tubular member- 7 is slotted forming pointed forkedportions 14 which are bent inwardly to engage the hygroscopicelement 3,a knot 15 preferably being formed at the end of said element to preventaccidental withdrawal' from the tube 7. The tubular member 7 is guidedwithin the device 6 by the shoulder 9, and the inwardly projecting ends12. The lug portions 13 carried by the tubular member 7, serves as aseat for the other end of the spring 8. It is to be observed, that inuse when the device is properly adjusted, that the lugs 13 will besubstantlally mid-way between the inwardly extending ends 12, and theother @11d 0f the contracted slotted portion 10 of the device 6. It isthus seen that a certain longitudinal movement of the end 4 of thehygroscopic element 3, is permitted. It is understood that any suitablemeans may be provided for yieldingly supporting one end of thehygroscopic element, this invention not being limited to theconstruction shown. The device 6 is shown as threaded within the tubularmember 1, but any suitable means may be provided for securing the saiddevice in position.

\ Any suitable means may be provided for using the hygroscope as apencil holder, p en holder or the like. In the form shown, a tubularmember 16 is provided having one end'thereof secured in any suitablemanner to the tubular member 1, the other end being open and adapted toreceive a pencil 17 or anv other desired article.

The other end of the hygroscopic element is connected to a'mechanismwhich permits a rotary or turning movement of the hygroscopic element,which turning movement would be caused by a change in atmosphericconditions. In the preferred form shown, an indicator hand 18 isrotatably supported on a bearing point 19, in axial alinement withelement 3, the bearing point 19 being carried by a bearing or supportarm 20 carried by the tubular element. It is understood however, thatany suitable construction may be provided for rotatably supporting oneend of the hygroscopic element 3. A compensating means 21 is-provided,to permit a continued turning movement of the element 3, after theindicator hand 18 has reached its limit of movement in either direction.In theconstruction shown, a longitudinal extending arm 22 is connectedwith the hand 18, and is provided with a bent end portion 22 having anopening 23 therein. The compensating mechanism 21 is shown in Fig. 1 inelevation as a T shaped member,and comprisesl a disk 24 and a stem 25connected therewith, and extending through the opening 23, the end ofthe hygroscopic -element 3, being connected to the stem in any suitablemanner. In operation, the hygroscopic element will transmit its twistingor turning movement to the indicator hand through the compensatingmechanism 21, which essentially is a relatively loose frictional driveconnection. It is thus seen that as the indicator hand 18 is turned inone direction, the turning of the hand will be limited by the extendingarm 22 butting against bearing arm 20. When such a limit of movement isreached in'either direction, a continued turning or twisting movement ofthe hygroscopic element is permitted because the disk 24 may moverelative to the bent arm 22 on which the said disk is supported. By theprovision of such a compensating mechanism, it is seen that as soon asthe atniospheric conditions are such as to cause the hygroscopic elementto eXert a turning effort in the opposite direction, the indicator handwill immediately respond thereto. Such would not be the case if thehygroscopic element were secured to the indicator hand through a fixedor rigid connection.

A suitable graduated annular disk 26 may be provided to coperate withthe indicator hand to indicate4 atmospheric conditions. The said diskmay be provided with suitable letters such as D for dry, R for rain andC for clear which letters will be properly arranged on the disk. In thepreferred form shown, the graduated annular disk is positioned below theindicator hand 18, and is held in position by a cap 27 having atransparent covering 28 therein, the said cap being secured in the tubeby a threaded connection or any other suitable means.

The cat gut which is preferably used as the hygroscopic element, iscomposed of a number of pieces of twisted cat gut. lf there is aconsiderable quantity of moisture in the atmosphere, there will be atendency for one end of the cat gut to twist or turn in one direction,movingthe indicator hand l parting in the same direction. The indicatorhand 18, would under such conditions, point to that part of thegraduated disk corresponding to rain. if the atmosphere contained butlittle moisture, the element 3 is drawn in the opposite direction,moving the indicator hand 18 therewith, the said hand pointing undersaid conditions to that part of the graduated disk designating dry orsimilar atmospheric conditions.

If desired, another tube v29 may be proelement to maintain relativelyconstant tension therein an indicator connected to the other end of saidelement, a Acompensating frictional connection between said element andsaid indicator, and a bearing support to permit said indicator to beactuated by twisting effect of said hygroscopic element about the axisthereof.

3. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pencil holder or the like,comprising a tubular member, a hygroscopic element extendinglongitudinally thereof, a resilient means including a spring carried bysaid member, yieldingly supporting one end of said element to permitlongitudinal movement thereof, an indicator secured to the other end ofsaid element through a frictional connection, a bearing support for saidindicator in axial alinement with said element, whereby said indicatormay turn about thel axis of said element, and a scale carried by saidmember and cooperating' with the indicator to show relative movementthereof.

4. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pencil holder or the like,comprising in combination, a tubular member, a hygroscopic element,including a twisted cat gut, and extending longitudinally of saidmember, means connected to one end of said element, to hold the sameagainst rotary movement, but to permit longitudinal movement thereof, anindicator connected to the other end vided spaced from the tubularmember 1, to

form a covering for openings 2. Such a covering while concealing thehygroscopic element from view, will permit the air to come in contactwith the vhygrcscopic element.

While but one of the preferred forms of the invention had been shownherein, it is understood that the invention is not tobe limited to thedetails ofconstruction shown herein, but that certain changes andmodifications may be made thereof without defrom the spirit and scope ofthis invention. v

Claims:

1. A hygroscope comprising a tubular member, a hygroscopic element, oneend of said element being carried by a yielding means including aresilient member, an indicator connected to the other end of saidelement, and a means supporting said indicator to permit movement aboutthe axis of said element.

2'. A hygroscope comprising in combination a tubular member, ahygroscopic element extending longitudinally of said member, a resilientsupport .for one end of ysaid of said element, and a bearing for saidindicator in axial alinement with said element, whereby said indicatoris actuated by a twisting or turning effort of the cat gut due to achange in atmospheric conditions.

5. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pen, pencil holder, or the like,comprising in combination a tubular member having openings therein, atwisted cat gut extending longitudinally of said member, means foryieldingly supporting one end of said element, said means including adevice'fixed to said member, another device connected to one end of saidelement, to hold the same against rotaryv movement, and a resilientmember including a spring interposed between said devices, meansconnected to the other end of said element and rotatably supported, topermit a twisting movement of said end, said means including anindicator in axial alinement with said element, and a relatively loosedriving connection between one end of said element and said indicator.

6. A hygroscope adapted to be used as af pen or pencil holder, or thelike, comprising a tubular member having openings therein. a hygroscopicelement including a twisted cat gut, a spring support for one end ofsaid element to permit longitudinal movement thereof, said meansincluding a device fixed to the tube, a second device fixed to one endof said element, a shoulder fixed to Said first device, and anothershoulder fixed to said second device, a spring interposed between saidshoulders, means for rotatably supporting the other end of said element,said means including an indicator comprising an indicator hand extendingtransversely of said element, a member connected with said hand andextending longitudially of said element, and an arm having ali a meanscarried by the casing for yieldingly opening therein connected to theend of said member, a bearing arm for said indicator hand carried by thetubular member, and having the bearing point thereof in axialalinementwith said twisted cat gut, a frictional compensating deviceconnecting said indicator to one end of said cat gut, an indicatingscale carried by the tubular member, and coperating with the indicatorhand.

-7. A device of the character described, comprising a casing, ahygroscopic element` means arranged within the casing to provide ayielding support for one end of the hygroscopic element, means rotatablysupporting the other end of said element, said turning movement of thehygroscopic element and independent of the movement of the indicator. n

8. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pencil or pen holder or thelike, comprising an outer casing', a hygroscopic element,

supporting one end vof the hygroscopic element but restraining said endfrom rotary movement, a means supporting the other end of said elementto permit a turning movement thereof, said means including an indicatorhand, a stop to limit the rotary movement of said indicator hand, and acompensating means connected between the end of the said element, andthe indicator hand, for permitting continued rotary movement of the saidelement, after the indicator hand has reached its limit of movement. A

CORNELIUS SAMPIETRO.

